Anti-idiotypic B cells are required for the induction of suppressor T cells.

A nylon wool-adherent, B cell-enriched population is required during the in vitro induction of third order effector suppressor T cells (Ts3). This B cell population expresses IgM and IgD and is devoid of conventional T cell markers such as Thy-1, L3T4, and Lyt-1. Treatment of the B cell population with anti-NP antibodies expressing the NPb idiotype and complement specifically eliminated the ability to generate Ts cell activity, suggesting that the critical B cells expressed anti-idiotypic receptors. To independently verify the role of anti-idiotypic B cells in the generation of Ts cells, B cells were panned on antibody-coated plates. The results demonstrated that only NPb idiotype-binding B cells could induce effector suppressor cells from naive T cell populations. The combined data demonstrate the role of Ig network interactions in the generation of Ts cells.